Croydon Council have been urged to conduct a risk assessment to establish what damage a two-year closure would inflict on Fairfield Halls, as a row over the venue's development rumbles on.

Conservative opposition councillors demanded an analysis of "the threat to the market share and brand" posed by plans to shut the venue from spring next year 2018 for a £12m revamp.

Simon Thomsett, chief executive of Fairfield Halls, last week revealed fears audiences would be permanently lost when the theatre complex closes.

Council leader Tony Newman responded by saying he was "surprised and disappointed" by Mr Thomsett's intervention and by outlining the council's reasons for rejecting a phased closure.

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Fourteen Conservative councillors have now called the council's decision in for further scrutiny at a special meeting next week.

Coun Sara Bashford, who referred the plans to the scrutiny and strategy overview committee, said: "The current recommendation closes the Fairfield for 2.5 years which is inconsistent to the most effective financial functioning of the Fairfield Halls and Council.

"We require a risk assessment to be undertaken that looks at the threat to the market share and brand of Fairfield and how long it would take Fairfield to recover from closure in line with the council’s current cultural statements."

Her referral form calls for the council to "rescind the decision and reconsider the scheme to allow the Fairfield Halls to operate during the refurbishment to ensure Croydon has the benefit of its prime cultural venue".

Keeping two of the venue's three stages open during the redevelopment would cost the council £4.8m more than complete closure, according to consultants Mott McDonald.

A report by the firm adds there would be "potential safety issues" and a higher risk of damages.

But the report acknowledges full closure would entail "undoubtedly a significant quantum of lost revenue and additional costs to the Fairfield operations". 

It adds: "We cannot assess these and Fairfield need to advise."

Mr Thomsett told the Croydon Guardian he believed full closure would cost more than a phased development.

The plans will be looked at by the scrutiny committee on Monday.